{"id":25606,"date":"2026-03-03T15:02:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T15:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/?p=25606"},"modified":"2026-03-03T15:02:29","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T15:02:29","slug":"pioneering-affordable-access-in-africa-gsma-and-handset-affordability-coalition-members-identify-six-african-countries-to-pilot-affordable-40-smartphones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/press-release\/pioneering-affordable-access-in-africa-gsma-and-handset-affordability-coalition-members-identify-six-african-countries-to-pilot-affordable-40-smartphones\/","title":{"rendered":"Pioneering Affordable Access in Africa:\u00a0GSMA and Handset Affordability Coalition Members Identify\u00a0Six\u00a0African\u00a0Countries\u00a0to Pilot\u00a0Affordable\u00a0$40 Smartphones\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GSMA,\u00a0the\u00a0G6 group of leading African operators and\u00a0top\u00a0OEMs\u00a0join forces with\u00a0agreement\u00a0to pilot\u00a0next-generation,\u00a0affordable\u00a04G smartphones\u00a0to millions across\u00a0Africa<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 March\u00a02026,\u00a0Barcelona<\/strong>:\u00a0The\u00a0GSMA<\/a>\u00a0today\u00a0announced\u00a0that\u00a0six\u00a0African countries\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Democratic\u00a0Republic of Congo\u00a0(DRC), Ethiopia, Nigeria,\u00a0Rwanda,\u00a0Tanzania\u00a0and Uganda\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0have been\u00a0identified\u00a0by the\u00a0GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0initial\u00a0pilots\u00a0to introduce affordable 4G\u00a0smartphones and\u00a0look to Governments to support their efforts.\u00a0\u00a0
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The\u00a0Memorandum of Understanding (MoU),\u00a0signed\u00a0between the GSMA, the G6 group of leading African operators and\u00a0original equipment manufacturers (OEM)\u00a0partners,\u00a0formalises collaboration to pilot affordable entry-level 4G smartphones in Africa in 2026.\u00a0
The pilots build\u00a0on the\u00a0minimum\u00a0requirements for low-cost 4G devices\u00a0unveiled at MWC Kigali in 2025\u00a0and represent a significant step forward in turning industry alignment into tangible, on-the-ground impact.\u00a0
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The\u00a0GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition\u00a0brings together mobile operators, OEMs, financing\u00a0institutions\u00a0and international organisations including the World Bank Group and the ITU.\u00a0Its\u00a0objective\u00a0is to\u00a0lower the cost of entry-level smartphones worldwide and accelerate digital inclusion in markets where affordability\u00a0remains\u00a0a key\u00a0barrier.\u00a0
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However, the current surge in\u00a0the global cost of\u00a0memory prices is making it increasingly difficult to\u00a0attain\u00a0the critical\u00a0US$30 – US$40 price\u00a0<\/strong>range\u00a0required\u00a0to unlock mass adoption.\u00a0Against\u00a0this economic context\u00a0and\u00a0considering that few opportunities exist to lower materials and manufacturing costs for entry-level devices,\u00a0it\u00a0has become\u00a0even more important to\u00a0reduce\u00a0or\u00a0eliminate\u00a0taxes\u00a0and import duties\u00a0on entry-level 4G smartphones.\u00a0\u00a0
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Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA<\/strong>, said:\u00a0\u201cAffordable\u00a0smartphones are the gateway to digital\u00a0and financial\u00a0inclusion, economic\u00a0opportunity\u00a0and innovation.\u00a03.1\u00a0billion\u00a0people have mobile coverage but are not connected to the mobile internet.\u00a0Together with the G6 group of leading African operators, we are sending a clear demand signal to bring low-cost 4G devices to market. In a global context of rising memory costs, governments have\u00a0an important role\u00a0in bridging the usage gap. Removing taxes and import duties on entry-level 4G smartphones will be critical to achieving scale.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0
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A\u00a0Vast\u00a0Untapped\u00a0Opportunity<\/strong>\u00a0
Africa\u00a0remains\u00a0home to one of the world\u2019s largest mobile internet usage gaps. Millions live within broadband coverage but remain offline, with handset affordability consistently cited as the biggest barrier to adoption. Affordable 4G smartphones at scale\u00a0could\u00a0bring\u00a0tens of millions of people online<\/strong>,\u00a0unlocking\u00a0access to education, healthcare, financial services,\u00a0e-commerce\u00a0and AI-powered\u00a0tools.\u00a0
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Enabling\u00a0Local AI\u00a0Innovation<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impact of rising memory costs extends beyond connectivity. Memory-intensive technologies are essential for on-device AI, local language\u00a0processing\u00a0and the growth of regional tech ecosystems.\u00a0
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Against this backdrop, the\u00a0GSMA-led AI Language Models Initiative<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 built in Africa, by Africa, for Africa \u2013 is advancing scalable, locally relevant AI models.\u00a0
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At the first Africa Pavilion\u00a0at this year\u2019s MWC26\u00a0Barcelona, the\u00a0initiative\u00a0will\u00a0showcase:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n